Dear YB CM Lim,
Congratulations to you for leading the PR team in successfully securing the second term for the PR State government.
I am one of those thousands of Malaysians who had to leave Malaysia to work in overseas for the future of our children. And I believe coming back to Malaysia to cast our votes during this PRU 13 was one of the best decisions and best things we have done as Malaysians for Malaysia.
I am very happy to see the many great improvements made since 308 and what is most interesting and I am most happy about is every Penangite that I talked to, irrespective of gender, age, race and religion; is very positive and upbeat about the potential of Penang.
I can sense and feel that Penangites are now seeing a much brighter future ahead of them and are confident that under your leadership, Penang would be able to progress much faster than the last 51 years under the rule of Bn / Alliance government.
I am personally very impressed with the many changes that had; not only been implemented but more importantly they have been institutionalised. These changes even though are basic but they are very important to building the foundation and momentum for further improvements.
In addition to the many good things and programs that your government have initiated, please allow me to make a few suggestions which I believe are pertinent to the economic development of the state and rakyat.
I think it is very essential that we look into the re-positioning of Penang, we need to ask ourself whether Penang can continue to compete within the region for FDI and whether Penang’s current industrial leadership position within the region is sustainable.
I think we need to diversify our economic activities and explore, identify and develop other areas that Penang could excell and have the inherent and/or developed competitive advantages against our neighbours in the region.
Several areas that I can think of are :
1) medical hosptitality industry : besides the current Indonesian market, there is a huge market in China and within ASEAN that we could tap, I believe the China medical hospitality market size is at least 100 times that of ASEAN.
2) as a landing and entry point for tourists going to ASEAN countries arriving from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Europe and Americas.
3) phamaceutical industrial centre within ASEAN countries.
4) commercial and industrial software techological development centre, our multi lingual population is our definite inherent competitive strength and advantage.
5) centre of higher education for overseas, especially Chinese students pursuing their degree / masters courses.
6) branded goods shopping heaven for tourists, especially the Chinese tourists.
7) the re-location and creation of a new industrial zone in replacement of the current Bayan Lepas Industrial zone.

The above are just the few that I could think of albeit haven’t done an indepth study and analysis.

I believe it is essential that a professional team be established to look into researching and developing a Penang Strategic Master Development Plan that would propel Penang into its new designed position that is sustainable in the next 20 years.